Parachute drop



A. J. CORNELIUS.

PARACHUTE DROP. APPLICATION FILED APR. I5, 1922.

Patented Nov. M, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR A. J. CORNELIUS. PARACHUTE DROP. APPLICATION FILED APR, 15. 1922.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BY ['51 i ATTO RNEY Patented :Nov. 14, 122,

ARTHUR J. CORNELIUS, 0F BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

PARACHUTE DBQP.

Application filed April 15, 1922. Serial No. 552,877.

7 0 all whom it- 'may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. CORNELIUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Parachute Drops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to releasing means, and more particularly to what I terma para-- chute drop for use in connection with airplanes.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide simple and efiicient means whereby the passengers may be quickly and safely discharged from an airplane in case of accident. A further object is to provide means of the character stated of simple construction and operation which may be readily installed. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1, parts being omitted for clearness;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

. Figure 4 is a fragmentary. section taken through the seat and associated parts;

Figure 5 is a detail of the connection between the operating rod and one of the catches.

In constructing the apparatus I provide a plurality of uprights 1 which are secured in the fuselage A of the airplane, these uprights being arranged in squares or rectan les. A bracket 2 is secured to each uprig t by a bolt 3 and to the adjacent side-of the fuselage; This bracket is provided with a depending sleeve 4: which accommodates an expansion coil spring 5 mounted about upright 1 and confined between the upper end of the sleeve and a collar 6 provided at the corner of a rectangular frame 7 to which is secured to a seat 8, one seat being positioned between each set of uprights. The sleeves 6 provide a sliding mounting on uprights 1 which permit the seat to move downwardl when released. The seat 8 is normally eld raised by means of catches 9 which are pivoted on strips 10 secured to the inner face of the fuselage at each side thereof, these catches being normally in engagement with rectangular fingers 11 which project laterally from sleeves 6. At their upper ends the catches 9 are pivotally secured in turn-buckles 12 connected by rods 13. The front turn-buckle 12 is connected by a rod 14 to an operating lever 15 mounted on a bracket 16 secured to strip 10. The rearmost turn-buckle 12 is connected by a rod 17 to a tension spring 18 secured to stri 10, this spring acting to nor-mall hold t e catches 9 in operative posltlon. 15 rearwardly and upwardly catches 9 may be moved into inoperative position so as to release the frames 7 thus permitting seats 8 to move downwardly alon the uprights 1.

The bottom of fuselage is provided, beneath the seats 8, with openings of'relatively great area. These openings are normally closed by rectangular closure members or doors 19 each of which is provided on its upper face with four cylindrical casings 20 having base flanges 21 secured to door 19 by bolts 22' or in any other suitable or preferred manner. The lower portion of upright 1 fits into casing 20 and an expansion COll spring 23 is mounted in this casing and confined between the bottom of the same and the lower end of the upright. These sprin act to force the door 19 downwardly throng the opening in the bottom of the fuselage. Each door is further provided, adjacent to each corner, with a hook member 24; secured to the inner face of the door and adapted to be engaged by a catch 25 pivoted on a strip 26 secured to the side of the fuselage. The upperends of the catches 25 are pivoted in turn-buckles 27 connected by rods 28. The foremost turn-buckle is connected by a rod 29 to a foot lever 30 pivoted in a bracket 31 secured to the bottom of the fuselage. The rearmost turn-buckle is connected by an eye rod 32 to a tension spring 33 which is secured to strip 26.

As will be understood, there may be as many seats provided as desired andwhen the passengers enter the airplane they strap on parachutes of any known or preferred type. he pilot of the airplane is preferably in the front seat and, in the eventof an accident such as would be apt to cause falling of the airplane, he depresses levers 30 thus moving catches 25 out of engagement with hook members 24. This releases the closure members or doors 19 which are forced downwardly by the expansion springs 23 so as to leave the openings through the bottom of the fuselage unobstructed. After this has been.

done, the levers 25 are rocked rearwardly' thus releasing seats 8 which, with the peey pullingthe upper arms of levers suitable or preferred arrangement for operating the releasing catches may be employed.

What I claim is 1. In means for releasing an airplane seat so as to discharge from the airplane a person'sittin upon the seat, spaced uprights, seats slida 1y mounted on the uprightsfor movement downwardly off of the same, closure members beneath the seats, means for supporting said closure members and for re easing the same so as to provide unobstructed openings beneath said seats, means for exerting downward pressure on the seats, and means for supporting the seats and for I 25 optionally releasing them.

2. In means for releasing an airplane seat so as to discharge from the airplane a person sitting upon the seat, a plurality of uprights disposed in spaced relation, a seat frame slidably mounted on said uprights and freely movable downwardly oil of the uprights, a seat carried by said frame, supporting members projecting from the frame, catches engaging with said supporting members and acting tonormally hold the seat frame raised, and means for moving said catches into inoperative position for releasing the seat frame so as to permit downward movement thereof oil of the uprights.-

3. In means for releasing an airplane seat so, as to discharge from the airplane a person sitting upon the seat, a plurality of uprights, a seat frame mounted onsaid uprights and freely movable downwardly ofi of the uprights, supporting fingers projecting from the frame, catches for engagement In means for releasing an airplane seat so as to discharge from the airplane a person sitting upon the seat, .a plurality of uprights, a seat slidably mounted on the uprights andmovable downwardly off of the same, a closuremember of greater area than the seat and positioned beneath said seat, means for exerting downward pressure on said closure member, means for supporting the closure member and optionally releasing the same,'and means for supporting theseat and for releasing the same.

\ 5. In means for releasing anairpl'ane seat so as to discharge from the airplane a person sittingi upon the seat, aplurality of spaced uprig ts, a seat slidably mounted on said uprights and movable downwardly oil of the same, means for supporting said seat and for optionally releasing the seat, a closure member of greater area. thanthe seat and positioned beneath the same, securing members carried by said closure member, catches positioned and adapted for engagement with said securing members and acting to nor- ,mally hold the closure member against downward movement, and means for moving said catches into inoperative position so as to release the closure member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR J. CORNELIUS. 

